Jordan Moves Thousands Of Troops To Iraq Border To Protect Themselves From ISIS
The possibility that the troops could be used offensively against ISIS has not been ruled out.
From F. Peter Brown, Western Journalism
Jordan has moved “thousands” of troops to the Iraq border after a Jordanian pilot was burned alive, according to two Jordanian government officials who spoke with NBC News.
According to NBC, “the troops were sent to prevent the infiltration of ISIS fighters into Jordan and as a show of force.”
King Abdullah of Jordan promised to hit ISIS “hard in the very center of their strongholds” after the Jordanian pilot’s murder.
Nevertheless, according to Matthew Henman, an analyst at Jane’s Terrorism and Insurgency Centre in London, Jordan’s response is “an intensification of ongoing efforts to secure the border to stop movement of men and weapons,” not the beginning of an invasion.
Still, the possibility that the troops could be used offensively against ISIS has not been ruled out. The Iraqi army is preparing an offensive against ISIS, according to Sky News.